Toy hectograph



March 8, 1960 B. HIRSCH ETAL 2,927,531

' TOYHECTOGRAPH Filed Nov. 5,1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /IIIIIIIIIIIIIIWIL INVENTOR. BENJAMIN L. HIRSCH B BY HENRY HIRSCH 4 c ATTORNEYS 2,927,531 TOY HECTOGRAPH Benjamin L. Hirsch and Henry Hirsch, Toledo, Ohio Application November 5, 1958, Serial 772,043 8 Claims. (Cl. 101-1345) This invention relates to toys of the class intended not only for the amusement of children but also for their instruction and training in dexterity.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy hectograph which is capable of producing numerous copies of words, phrases and sentences as well as numerous copies of indicia, diagrams and pictures.

It is a further object to provide a toy hectograph capable of producing such copies in various colors and in combinations of colors.

A further object is to provide a toy hectograph which can be produced in quantities at very low cost and which While of sturdy construction is very light in weight.

Still a further object is to provide a toy hectograph which can be furnished to the trade as a kit of parts which can be assembled quickly by an unskilled person without the aid of tools.

And still a further object is to provide such a kit of parts which may be contained in a small envelope and which because of its compactness, light weight, low cost, ease of assembly, sturdiness and the variety of its utility for instruction and amusement is highly attractive as a premium to encourage purchases of packaged foods and supplies for household use.

Other objects and many advantages of the invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following description illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. I is a side elevational view of a preferred form of toy hectograph embodying the invention;

Fig. II is a plan view of the toy hectograph illustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. III is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view partly in section taken substantially as indicated by the line IIIIII of Fig. II; and

Fig. IV is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. II.

These drawings and this specification are intended to illustrate and describe a preferred form of the invention but are not intended to impose limitations upon its scope.

In the form illustrated the main frame of the toy duplicating machine consists of a laterally extending front strip 1 and a parallel laterally extending rear strip 2 from the ends of which rise identical side members 3 and 4. The strips 1 and 2 and the side members 3 and 4 preferably are molded in one resilient piece of a synthetic resin (such for example as polystyrene), and the strips 1 and 2 may be trough-shaped for strength and lightness.

The upper edges of the side members 3 and 4 slope rearwardly and downwardly, and extending across the frame between the sloping edges of the side members is a downwardly and rearwardly sloping rectangular tray 5.

The side members 3 and 4 are formed with upwardly projecting nibs 6 and 7 having round-bottomed notches 8 and 9 in their tops, there being small ribs 19 and 11 extending laterally from the nibs 6 and 7 and serving to narrow the mouths of the notches 8 and 9. Since the ribs 10 and 11 are not actually in the notches 8 and 9 they do not interfere with withdrawal of the side members 2 and 3 from the mold in which the side members are made,

Molded as a separate part is a rectangular platen 12 having a fiat front face 13 from the four edges of which Hanging 14 extends rearwardly to stiffen the platen without materially increasing its mass. Projecting downwardly from the lower corners of the rectangular platen 12 are fingers 15 and 16 from which trunnions 17 and 18 extend laterally to enter and rock in the round-bottomed notches 8 and 9. I

In assembling the platen 12 with the frame side members 3 and 4, the trunnions are pushed downwardly between the ribs that narrow the mouths of the notches, the

ribs springing apart sutficiently to permit passage of the trunnions therebetween and then springing inwardly to prevent accidental escape of the trunnions from the notches. The rectangular platen 12 thus is hinged to the frame so that it can swing alternately forward from a position in which it leans slightly backward to a position in which it overlies the rectangular tray 5, and back again.

A pair of wrist pins 19 and 20 project laterally from the flanging of the platen 12, and a pair of resilient synthetic resin connecting links 21 and 22, having clothespin-like slotted ends, are pivoted to the wrist pins and extend into rotatable engagement with crank pins 23 and 24 carried by cranks 25 and 26 that are fixed upon a crank shaft 27 which is journaled in notches 28 and 23 in the resilient frame side members 3 and 4. The crank 25 is provided with a handle 30.

The platen 12 thus is so articulated with the crank shaft 27 that as the crank shaft 27 is turned by means of the handle 30, the rectangular platen swings forwardly and downwardly to overlie the rectangular tray 5. The notches 28 and 29 in the side members 3 and 4 are constructed similarly to the notches 8 and 9 in the tops of the nibs 6 and 7, and the mouths of the notches. 28 and 29 are similarly narrowed by small ribs 31 and.

shaft is turned by means of the handle.

The resilient clothes pin-like ends of the connecting links 21 and 22 have slots 33 and 34 which receive the: wrist pins 19 and 20, and similar slots 35 and 36 which; receive the crank pins 23 and 24. The sides of the end. slots of the connecting links 21 and 22 are formed with; arcuate bearing portions which snap into engagement: with the crank pins and wrist pins after the crank pins:

and wrist pins have been pushed through the narrowedi mouths of the slots.

The parts so far described are molded of artificial resin which is sufficiently resilient so that the crank shaft, crank pins, wrist pins and trunnions can be simply pushed into the narrowed mouths of notches and slots and will be reliably held in the notches and slots for rotation and articulation.

The tray 5 is charged with a hectograph composition 37 capable of absorbing a hectograph dye, e.g., a water soluble aniline dye, in considerable quantities from words, phrases, sentences, pictures and other inscriptions made from such dye on paper, and of releasing, little by little, the dye which has been so absorbed, to transfersuch inscriptions to successive sheets of paper. Such Paper coated with a water-soluble aniline dye of any desired color (the coating being covered thinly with wax, so that the paper can be handled and used in the same manner as carbon paper is used) also is commercially available. The wax covering is for the purpose of avoiding smudging the hands when the coated paper is being handled.

The copies which are the output of the toy hectograph machine of this invention are made on rectangular sheets of plain paper, a stack 38 of which is held upon the front face of the platen 12 by two rubber bands 39 which are stretched over the paper and around the platen through notches 40 and 41 in the rearwardly extending fianging 14, the rubber bands thus being prevented from slipping laterally.

When copies are to be made of a picture or other inscription, a piece of the above-described paper coated with a dye is placed between two sheets of plain paper and the inscription is made upon one of the sheets so that a master copy (comparable to a carbon copy) is made upon the other of the sheets. The surface upon which the master copy has been made is then laid upon the surface of the composition 37, preferably after the surface of the composition 37 has been moistened, whereupon dye is absorbed by the composition and appears on the surface of the composition as a mirror image of the inscription. The hectograph composition can absorb enough dye from a single master copy to make some fifty or more duplicate copies.

To transfer the inscription to one of the sheets of paper overlying the face of the platen 12, the handle 39 is turned through one revolution, whereupon the platen swings forwardly and downwardly to press the outermost sheet of the stack 33 upon the composition 37; and then the platen swings upwardly and backwardly. At the bottomof the downward swing, the outermost sheet of paper adheres at its center to the hectograph composition. As the platen rises, the ends of the sheet of paper are pulled out of the rubber bands, and gravity then causes the sheet to flatten progressively from its center to its ends into overall adherent engagement with the surface of the hectograph composition, expelling all air present toy in which rotary motion of the handle 39 causes oscillatory movement of the platen 12, presses paper sheets upon the hectograph composition, and strips the paper margins from beneath the rubber bands, thus providing a rather striking example of multiple functioning of simple machinery.

The molded parts are adapted to be made in different colors, and the toy when made, for example, with a black frame, a yellow platen and red cranks and links is attractive and appeals to a wide range of ages and mentalities.

The form of the invention which is hereinbefore described and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings is exemplary only, and the invention, encompasses other forms and modifications within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A toy hectograph comprising, in combination, a frame molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting of laterally extending front and rear strips and identical side pieces rising from the ends of said strips, a substantially rectangular tray extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composition, said side pieces having upwardly projecting nibs, said nibs having round-bottomed notches in their tops, said nibs having laterally extending small ribs serving to narrow the mouths of said round-bottomed notches; a platen molded of synthetic resin and having a substantially rectangular face, fingers projecting downwardly from two corners of said platen, trunnions projecting laterally from said fingers and being received in said round-bottomed notches of said upwardly projecting nibs, the resiliency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said ribs to spring apart when said trunnions are pushed into said round-bottomed notches and causing said ribs to spring toward each other after said trunnions are pushed beyond them, said platen having fianging extending rearwardly from the edges of said rectangular face, wrist pins projecting laterally from said flanging, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having clothes pin-type slots in their upper and lower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank from between the surfaces as it moves into such overall engagement. The sheet of paper is then manually peeled from the hectograph composition, and the peeling operation incidentally causes portions of the paper to move into engagement with the surface of the hectograph composition, thus assuring complete reproduction of the inscription.

The copies made by the toy hectograph described above are in colors corresponding to the colors of the dyes with. which the master copy has been made. Where pictures in two or more colors are to be produced, a master copy in two or more colors is made by successive use of sheets coated with different dyes, and the master copy in the various colors is applied to the hectograph composition. The vari-colored mirror image thus transferred to the composition will then be printed at a single impression upon each sheet applied to the hectograph composition.

An inscription can be removed from the hectograph composition by rinsing with warm water The machine consists only of light simple moldings and small rubber bands, which before assembly occupy little space. The crank shaft 27 with its cranks 25 and 26, its crank pins 23 and 24 and its handle 30 is a single substantially flat molding. The platen 12 with its flange 14 notched at 40 and 41 to position and retain the rubber bands 39, its wrist pins 19 and 20, its fingers 15 and 16, and its trunnions 17 and 18 constitutes a second simple substantially flat molding. The resilient doubleforked connecting links 21 and 22 with their arcuate bearing. portions; which snap into engagement with the wrist pins. and crank pins are even smaller and simpler flat moldings. When assembled, these pieces form the shaft, crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side members and held therein by laterally extending small ribs which can be sprung apart by forcing said crank shaft therebetween, said crank pins being rotatably received in the clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, one of said crank pins having a handle by which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, said platen being adapted to carry a stack of paper sheets, the fianging of said platen having kerfs, rubber bands passing through said kerfs and over margins of such paper sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links, the middle of the outermost sheet of such stack. is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of said hectograph composition, and whereby the margins of such outermost sheet are withdrawn from said rubber hands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

2. A toy hectograph comprising, in combination, aframe molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting of a base and side pieces rising from the ends of said base, a substantially rectangular tray extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composi- 7 resin. and having a substantially rectangular face, fingers projecting downwardly from two corners of said platen, trunnions projecting laterally from said fingers and-lbs ing received in said round-bottomednotches, the resiliency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said ribs to spring apart when said trunnions are pushed into said round-bottomed notches and causing said ribs to spring toward each other after said trunnions are pushed beyond them, said platen having fianging extending rearwardly from the edges of said rectangular face, wrist pins projecting laterally from said flanging, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having clothes pin-type slots in their upper and lower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank shaft,

crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side members and held therein by laterally extending small ribs which can be sprung apart by forcing saidcrank shaft therebetween, said crank pins being rotatably received in the clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, one of said crank pins having a handle by which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, said platen being adapted to carry a stack of paper sheets, the fianging of said platen having kerfs adapted to receive and position rubber bands passing through said kerfs and over margins of such paper sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links, the middle of the outermost sheet of such stack is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of such hectograph composition, and whereby the margins of such outermost sheet are withdrawn from such rubber bands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

3. A toy hectograph comprising, in combination, a frame molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting of laterally extending front and rear strips and identical side pieces rising from the ends of said strips, a substantially rectangular trays extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composition, said side pieces having upwardly projecting nibs, said nibs having roundbottomed notches in their tops, said nibs having laterally extending small ribs serving to narrow the mouths of said round-bottomed notches; a platen molded of synthetic resin and having a substantially rectangtr lar face, trunnions projecting laterally from said platen and being received in said round-bottomed notches of said upwardly projecting nibs, the resiliency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said ribs to spring apart when said trunnions are pushed into said round-bottomed notches and causing said ribs to spring toward each other after said trunnions are pushed beyond them, wrist pins projecting laterally from said platen, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having clothes pin-type slots in their upper and lower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side members and held therein by laterally extending small ribs which can be sprung apart by forcing said crank shaft therebetween, said crank pins being rotatably received in the clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, one of said crank pins having a handle by which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, said platen being adapted to carry a stack of paper sheets, said platen having kerfs adapted to receive and position rubber bands passing through said kerfs and over margins of such paper sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links,the middle of the outermost sheet of such stack is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of such hectograph composition, and whereby.

the margins of such outermost sheet are withdrawn from such rubber bands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

4. A toy hectograph comprising, in combination, a frame molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting laterally extending front and rear strips and identical side pieces rising from the ends of said strips, a substantially rectangular tray extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composition, said side pieces having upwardly projecting nibs, said nibs haping round-bottomed notches with narrow mouths in their tops; a platen molded of synthetic resin and having a substantially rectangular face, fingers projecting downwardly from two corners of said platen, trunnions projecting laterally from said fingers and being received in said round-bottomed notches of said upwardly projecting nibs, the resiliency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said narrow mouths to spring wider when said trunnions are pushed into said notches and causing said narrow mouths to narrow after said trunnions are pushed beyond them, said platen having flanging extending rearwardly from the edges of said rectangular face, wrist pins projecting laterally from said flanging, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having clothes pin-type slots in their and lower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side members and held therein by narrow months which can be widened by forcing said crank shaft thereinto, said crank pins being rotatably received in the clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, a handle by Which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, said platen being adapted to carry a stack of paper sheets overlying said platen, rubber bands passing over margins of said paper sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links, the middle of the outermost sheet of said stack is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of said hectograph composition, and whereby the margins of said outermost sheet are withdrawn from said rubber bands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

5. A toy hectograph comprising, in combination, a frame molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting of laterally extending front and rear strips and identical side pieces rising from the ends of said strips, a substantially rectangular tray extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composition, said side pieces having upwardly projecting nibs, said nibs having round-bottomed notches with narrow months in their tops; a platen molded of synthetic resin and having a substantially rectangular face, trunnions projecting laterally from said platen and being received in said round-bottomed notches of said upwardly projecting nibs, the resiliency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said narrow mouths to spring wider when said trunnions are pushed into said notches and causing said narrow mouths to narrow after said trunnions are pushed through them, wrist pins projecting laterally from said platen, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having clothes pin-type slots in their upper and lower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side member and held therein by narrow months which can be widened by forcing said crank shaft thereinto, said crank pins being rotatably received in the l clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, a handle by which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, a stack of paper sheets overlying said platen, rubber bands passing over margins of said paper sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crankshaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links, the middle of the outermost sheet of said stack is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of said hectograph composition, and where by the margins of said outermost sheet are withdrawn from said rubber hands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

6. A toy hectograph comprising, in combination, a frame molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting of a base and side pieces rising from the ends of said base, a substantially rectangular tray extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composition, said side pieces having upwardly opening roundbottomed notches with narrow months in their tops; a platen molded of synthetic resin and having a substantially rectangular face, fingers projecting downwardly from two corners of said platen, trunnions projecting laterally from said fingers and being received in said roundbottomed notches, the resiliency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said narrow mouths to spring wider when said trunnions are pushed into said notches and causing said narrow mouths to narrow after said trunnions are pushed through them, said platen having flanging extending rearwardly from the edges of said rectangular face, wrist pins projecting laterally from said hanging, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having clothes pin-type slots in their upper and lower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side members and held therein by narrow months which can be widened by forcing said crank shaft thereinto, said crank pins being rotatably received in the clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, a hande by which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, a stack of paper sheets overlying said platen, the fianging of rubber bands passing over margins of said paper sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links, the middle of the outermost sheet of said stack is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of said hectograph composition, and whereby the margins of said outermost sheet are withdrawn from said rubber bands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

7. A toy hectograph comprising, in combination, a frame molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting of a base and side pieces rising from the ends of said base, a substantially rectangular tray extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composition, said side pieces having upwardly opening round-bottomed notches in their tops, and having laterally extending smallribs serving to narrow the mouths of said round-bottomed notches; a platen molded of synthetic resin-and having a substantially rectangular face, trunnions projecting laterally from said platen and being received in said roundbottomed notches, the resiliency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said ribs to spring apart when said trunnions are pushed into said roundbottomed notches and causing said ribs to spring toward each other after said trunnions are pushed between them,

wrist pins projecting laterally from. said platen, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having. clothes pin-type slots inltheir upper andlower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side members and held therein by lateral- 1y extending small ribswhich can be sprung apart by forcing said crank shaft therebetween, said crank pins being rotatably received in the clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, one of said crank pins having a handle by which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, said platen being adapted to carry a stack of paper sheets overlying said platen, said platen having kerfs, rubber bands passing through said kerfs and over margins of said paper Sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links, the middle of the outermost sheet of said stack is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of said hectograph composition, and whereby the margins of said outermost sheet are withdrawn from said rubber bands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

8. A to-y hectograph comprising, in combination, a frame molded of resilient synthetic resin and consisting of a base and side pieces rising from the ends of said base, a substantially rectangular tray extending between said side pieces and adapted to contain hectograph composition, said side pieces having upwardly opening roundbottomed notches with narrow mouths in their tops, a platen molded of synthetic resin and having a substantially rectangular face, trunnions projecting laterally from said platen and being received in said round-bottomed notches, the resiiency of the synthetic resin of which said frame is molded permitting said narrow mouths to spring wider when said trunnions are pushed into said notches and causing said mouths to renarrow aiter said trunnions are pushed between them, wrist pins projecting laterally from said platen, a pair of connecting links molded of resilient synthetic resin and having clothes pin-type slots in their upper and lower ends, the slots in the upper ends of said connecting links rockably receiving said wrist pins; a crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit integrally molded of synthetic resin, said crank shaft being journaled in downwardly opening notches in said side members and he'd therein by narrow months which can be widened by forcing said crank shaft thereinto, said crank pins being rotatably received in the clothes pin-type slots at the lower ends of said connecting links, a handle by which said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit can be rotated to thereby oscillate said platen, said platen being adapted to carry a stack of paper sheets overlying said platen, rubber bands passing over margins of said paper sheets to hold the stack of paper against the face of said platen, whereby when said platen is moved downwardly by action of said crank shaft, crank and crank pin unit and said connecting links, the middle of the outermost sheet of said stack is pressed upon and adheres to the upper surface of said hectograph composition, and whereby the margins of said outermost sheet are withdrawn from said rubber hands when said platen is oscillated upwardly and backwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 192,299 Smith June 19, 1877 1,055,932 Martin Mar. 11, 1913 1,070,176 Pritchard Aug. 12, 1913 2,046,639 Lindholm July 7, 1936 2,600,990 Hanson June 17, 1952 2,859,690 Wright et al Nov. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,262 Great-Britain -e May 18, 1887 401,423 France Aug. 28, 1909 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2 927 53l March 8 lQQO Benjamin L, Hirsch et al.

of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 39, for "trays" read tray column line 12 for "haping" read having line 26, after "their" insert upper column 7 line 431 for "hand e" read handle 4 Signed and sealed this 30th day of August 1960o (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

